Storage device for consumption-dependent reception of medicaments

ABSTRACT

A storage device which is suitable for presorting and having ready medicaments, particularly solid medicaments, and which is adapted to the medically prescribed, individual intake rhythm of the corresponding patients in such a way that the right dose can be administered at prescribed times without any problem. The storage device is in the form of magazines in which several receptacles (B) are stacked in semi-inclined position in a receiving container (A).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a storage device which is suitable so topre-sort, and keep in a state of readiness, medication, especiallymedication in solid form, in proportion to the medically prescribedindividual rhythm of consumption of any given patient, so that itsdispensing in the proper dose at prescribed times can take place withoutany problems.

2. The Prior Art

Such storage devices are needed for storing medications and forsimplifying the dispensing of medicine, particularly in the care ofelderly and handicapped persons. Medicine chests with differentsubdivisions are known for timeously making medicines available forhandicapped or aged persons. In this connection, so-called blisterpackages deposited in inserts are used which indicate at which day ofthe week and at what time the corresponding medicine is to be taken.

Since with aged people the quantity of dispensed medicine is relativelyhigh, increased demands are placed upon the caretaker responsible forthe administration of the medicines.

German specification DE 296 10 951 U1 discloses a sorting container forsmall components, in particular medicines in tablet or capsule form,which is provided with a box-like receiving element and which mayreceive up to seven arrayed individual receptacles. The box-likereceiving element is provided with an opening in the forward center zoneof its bottom as well as with a vertical slot in its forward wallthrough which the forward individual receptacle may be withdrawn. Everyindividual receptacle is provided with a rectangular aperture wherein asliding transparent lid is movably mounted in internal grooves near theupper edges of the longitudinal walls of the aperture.

A further container for storing articles, in particular medicines,cosmetics or jewelry is described in German specification DE 198 56 491C2. The principal characteristic of that invention is a sliding memberstructured as a roller lid shutter which is operatively connected with astorage element by way of a compensating clutch. The flexible slidingmember is guided in parallel internal grooves in side walls. The storageelement is provided with consecutively arrayed chamber sections whichare separated from each other by rigid separation webs.

A parallelepiped container of modular structure, especially formedication, is known from WO 99/02118, the pivotal lid and pivotalbottom section of which are each unilaterally connected to the rear wallof the container. The seven chamber sections of the container arrangedin a parallelepiped shape are separated from each other by rigidseparation webs. Moreover, for increasing the storage capacity, severalcontainers structured as daily dosage dispensers may be connected toeach other by way of a groove and tongue connection disposed at theirlongitudinal sides.

The subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,229 is a container structured as aweekly dosage dispenser receiving vertically arranged daily dosagedispensers with the front wall as well as the sidewalls which extend toabout half the depth of the daily dosage dispenser being open. Theindividual daily dosage dispensers which are divided into up to fourcompartments can be taken out of the weekly dosage dispenser from thefront thereof. Each of the individual compartments of the daily dosagedispensers can be separately opened by transparent lids. Arresting andguidance of the individual daily dosage dispensers within the weeklydosage dispenser are accomplished by abutments at the interior wall ofthe container.

Also, prior art British specification 2,122,578 A discloses aparallelepiped container for receiving several vertically arrayedindividual containers and enclosing them at every side by its lateralsides. The essence of the invention resides in a vertically slidablefront cover being provided with cut-out section through which containersmay be removed one at a time. In a preferred embodiment, the individualcontainers are removed at the upper section of the receiving containerby a spring element provided with a connected relatively movable bottomportion. Once a container has been removed, the container following nextin the array is moved to the cut-out section by the bias of the spring.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to develop a novel storage device withcontainers structured and arranged such that they permit easy visualinspection, filling and emptying for availability on a time-of-day,daily, weekly or monthly basis.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention the object is accomplished in themanner set forth in patent claims 1, 5 and 8. Improvements of theinvention are described in the subclaims.

In one aspect, the novel storage device in accordance with the inventionis conceived as a weekly dosage device.

The weekly dosage device is structured as a magazine such severalcontainers B are stacked in a receiving container A. At both of its endfaces, the receiving container A is at least partially open and houses,supported on its bottom, containers B in the manner of a magazine, in anapproximately parallel array relative to an inclined front surface andpositioned on their longitudinal narrow side. The approximatelyidentically inclined disposition of the planes of the front and rearends is inclined away from the front end surface. Because of theinclination, a user may at all times and without impediment visuallyinspect the actual contents of all containers B in their stacked storageposition within container A.

The containers B act as daily dosage dispensers or time-of-day dosagedispensers. Every weekly dosage dispenser (container A) contains sevendaily dosage dispensers. The daily dosage dispensers (containers B)which may be filled with tablets, for instance, may be removed throughthe front, i.e. through the forward end surface and, once emptied, theymay, in the manner of a magazine, be reinserted into the weekly dosagedispenser through its rear end.

To facilitate loading of the weekly dosage dispenser with daily dosagesfor a weekly cycle, the upper wall which is seated on the side walls ofthe container A may be removable. In a preferred embodiment, the lateralmargins of the upper wall and the adjacent longitudinal edges of theside walls may in that cases engage each other in such a manner thatremoval of the upper wall may only be done by squeezing the side wallstogether when the weekly dosage dispenser is empty.

A cut-out is provided between the front end surface or between the planeof the front end surface of the weekly dosage dispenser and the leadingedge of the upper wall. The cut-out makes it possible to grasp fromabove, and thus remove more easily, the leading one of the daily dosagedispensers positioned at the dispensing side and facilitates reinsertionof the given daily dosage dispenser.

In a preferred embodiment, the cut-out is restricted to the center area,and at both marginal sides adjacent to its center section, the upperwall is extended to the forward end face in the manner of a flexible webor tongue-like spring element. The flexible webs resiliently engage theupper surface of the leading container B and ensure that the leadingdaily dosage dispenser available for removal from the magazine isretained with sufficient force.

At the rear end surface of the weekly dosage dispenser, there isprovided a wall extending to about half the height of the container andengaged by the bottom portion of the trailing daily dosage dispenser.

The geometry of the containers B or daily dosage dispensers isstructured such that their length corresponds to the width of thecontainer A (weekly dosage dispenser) so that “charging of the magazine”takes place by stacking the daily dosage dispensers in the weekly dosagedispenser in a transverse orientation.

Each daily dosage dispenser consists of a bottom portion and apreferably transparent lid portion which may be removed from the bottomportion or may be structured to slide over the bottom portion in alongitudinal direction. When joining the two components, thelongitudinal transverse margins of the lid portion extend over the wallof the body of the bottom portion.

The bottom portion of the daily dosage dispenser is structured with acurved wall, and separation webs are provided in the bottom portion forforming separated deposit chambers.

These separation webs positioned transversely on the bottom portionsubdivide each daily dosage dispenser into at least five compartmentssuch that tablets may, for instance, be placed in them for “morning”,“noon”, evening”, “night time” and “as required” use. The lids may belabeled correspondingly.

The storage device may also be structured as a monthly dosage dispenser.A monthly dosage dispenser consists of a housing with several trays ordrawers positioned in the container C or monthly dosage dispenser.

Each drawer is provided with at least one receiving frame or with anexchangeable box-like insert provided with a receiving frame forreceiving the containers B which would in this example be daily dosagedispensers or time-of-day dosage dispensers. In this arrangement, thecontainers B are positioned on their longitudinal narrow sides withinthe receiving frame of the drawers.

For four weeks, a monthly dosage dispenser is provided with at least 112daily dosage dispensers or time-of-day dosage dispensers, and theinserted daily dosage dispensers or time-of-day dosage dispensers areprovided with markings (color, PIN, and the like) indicative of a day orthe like. Adjacent to the receiving frame for storing the containers B,the bottom section of the drawers or the box-like inserts may beprovided with recesses for inserting tubes, bottles, blisters,directions of use, auxiliary means and the like.

A particular characteristic of the drawer is that it may be withdrawnfrom the housing almost entirely, except for a few millimeters, and thattoward the end of its withdrawal it may be tilted downwardly by severalcentimeters. This allows a user to insert his hand even into therearmost portion of the drawer. The special movability of the drawer ismade possible by abutments positioned at the rear surface of the drawerwhich upon full withdrawal of the drawer engage corresponding abutmentsdisposed at the forward housing frame. For ensuring the downward tiltingof the drawer, the terminal portion of the groove in which the drawer issliding is widened progressively so that as a result of the increasingplay runners sliding in the groove and the drawer may be lowered.

In its basic structure, a monthly dosage dispenser contains five drawerssuch as, preferably, four small drawers and one large drawer. The chutesof the drawers in the housing of the monthly dosage dispenser may bedesigned to allow a large drawer to be exchanged for two small ones.

The monthly dosage dispensers may be provided with a locking feature forblocking one, several or all of the drawers. A handle may also beprovided to facilitate transportation. The monthly dosage dispensers maybe stackable; they may be connected to each other, placed on shelves orin cabinets, and they may be hung on a wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS

The novel features which are considered to be characteristic of theinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, in respect of its structure, construction andlay-out as well as manufacturing techniques, together with other objectsand advantages thereof, will be best understood from the followingdescription of preferred embodiments when read in connection with theappended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a complete a weekly dosage dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a sectional presentation along section line A-A of FIG. 1 of aweekly dosage dispenser with a “charged magazine”;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a complete a daily dosage dispenser;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the daily dosage dispenser;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a complete monthly dosage dispenser;

FIG. 6 Is an overall view of a drawer for a monthly dosage dispenser;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the drawer; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the slide of the drawer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a total view of the weekly dosage dispenser 1. In its basicstructure, the weekly dosage dispenser consists of a bottom portion 3with side walls 5 connected thereto in rectangular alignment, an upperwall 4 which cannot be removed by the user, and two end surfaces 2 ofinclined planes 2. For attaching the upper wall 4 on the side walls, theupper wall 4 is provided with two claws 4.1, and the side walls 5 areprovided with two associated recesses 5.2. The claws penetrate into thecorrespondingly configured recesses from the interior and/or from theexterior, and thus provide a snap-fit connection.

To facilitate removal and refilling of the filled daily dosage dispenser7 (see FIG. 2) by the patient, the forward end surface is open. At therear end surface there is provided an outwardly curved wall 2.1 whichextends to about half the height of the dosage dispenser and whichsupports the trailing daily dosage dispenser 7 at its matching curvedbottom portion 8 (see FIG. 2).

Relative to the length of the side walls 5, the upper wall 4 of theweekly dosage dispenser 1 is shortened such that at one of the two endsurfaces 2 the daily dosage dispenser 7 extended furthest may be graspedfrom above and drawn out in a forward direction (forward open endsurface) or, at the other end surface, a daily dosage dispenser may beinserted from above (rear end surface and wall 2.1).

At the withdrawal side, the cut-out in the upper wall 4 is restricted bytwo lateral tongue-like spring elements 6. The spring elements 6 extendin the direction of the plane of the forward end surface 2 fromextensions of the upper wall 4 and resiliently engage the top of theleading daily dosage dispenser 7. A lip 6.1 which may be provided at theforward section of the lower surface of the spring elements 6 augmentsany means for arresting the forward-most daily dosage dispenser 7. Theforce of these spring elements 6 must be overcome for removing the dailydosage dispensers 7 in a forward direction or for inserting a dailydosage dispenser 7 from the front.

For similarly arresting any trailing daily dosage dispenser 7 at therear surface of the weekly dosage dispenser 1, a clamping element 5.1 isprovided in both side walls 5. Its clamping action acts in an arrestingmanner on the end surfaces of the daily dosage dispenser located here(see FIG. 2). The clamping elements 5.1 may be structured as clampinglips, clamping wedges or clamping webs. Both components 5.1 ensure thatregardless of the orientation of the weekly dosage dispenser 1 no dailydosage dispenser 7 can slip out through the end surfaces 2.

FIG. 2 depicts a weekly dosage dispenser with a “magazine filled” byseven daily dosage dispensers 7. The seven daily dosage dispensers 7 aredisposed in a semi-inclined orientation, approximately parallel to theplane of the end surfaces 2, with their longitudinal narrow surfaces 7.1engaging the bottom 3 of the weekly dosage dispenser 1.

Each daily dosage dispenser 7 consists of a bottom portion 8 and a lidportion 9 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). When joining the two portions 8, 9, thelid portion 9, by its longitudinal side edges 9.1 extends over the wallof the bottom portion 8. The structure including such a lid portion 9allows quick removal of the lid by a simple click and subsequent(renewed) refilling of the daily dosage dispenser. The separation webs8.1 integral with the bottom portion 8 form the desired number ofstorage chambers for the daily dosage dispensers 7. By sliding the lidportion 9 along the bottom portion 8, the storage chambers aresequentially exposed. Knobs 7.2 distributed over the external surface ofthe bottom portion 8 improve the position of the daily dosage dispensers7.

FIG. 5 shows a stackable monthly dosage dispenser 10 in a structuresuitable for transport, with a handle element 18 which may be recessedinto the housing. In its basic structure, the monthly dosage dispenser10 shown consists of a housing 12 with four inserts structured asdrawers 11. As a rule, two removable box-like inserts 14 may be placedin each drawer 11. Each drawer 11 or each insert 14 is provided with atleast one receiving frame 13 for accepting, in a semi-inclinedorientation, the daily dosage dispensers and/or time-of-day dosagedispensers 7. The support surfaces of the receiving frame 13 are ofcurved configuration which complements the bottom portion 8 of the dailydosage dispenser 7.

Openings 11.2 are provided in the bottom portion of the drawers 11 andof the inserts 14. The openings 11.2 overlap, so that once a drawer 11has been withdrawn, any tubes, bottles, blisters and the like stored inthe daily dosage dispensers and/or time-of-day dosage dispensers 7, maybe grasped through openings 11.2 from below for augmenting orfacilitating their removal. Each insert 14 usually is provided withreceiving frames 13 arranged in pairs or at both sides for supportingthe two ends of the daily dosage dispensers and/or time-of-day dosagedispensers 7.

Marking fields 11.3 serve to simplify the arrangement and dispensing ofmedication and may be provided at the handle side of the drawers as wellas on the daily dosage dispensers and/or time-of-day dosage dispensers7.

Because specially structured runners, the drawers 11 may be almostcompletely withdrawn from the housing 12 and tilted downwardly by up toabout 30° relative to the horizontal plane. In this manner, unimpededaccess is possible to the most rearward sections of the drawer 11.Structure and function of this constructive arrangement is apparent fromFIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 depicts a section of the drawer 11 showing an abutment 15.1 atthe rear surface of the drawer 11.1.

FIG. 8 depicts the front side (side of insertion) of the housing frame12.1 provided with a corresponding abutment 15.2 which upon withdrawalof the drawer 11 is engaged by the abutment 15.1 at the rear surface ofthe drawer. The downward tilting movement of the drawer 11 sliding onrunners 17 in associated grooves 16 is made possible by the shownprogressive widening of the groove.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A storage device for the consumption-dependentreception of medication, especially in solid medication states,consisting of a weekly dosage dispenser (1) which is provided with ashallow housing extending in the x-y planes as well as with accessopenings at both end surfaces, with several daily dosage dispensers (7)composed of a bottom portion (8) and a lid portion (9) being present inthe interior disposed adjacent to each other and aligned longitudinallyof the access openings, daily dosage dispensers (7) being individuallyremovable through an access opening, characterized by the fact that thehousing of the weekly dosage dispenser (1)—container A—consists of abottom (3) and an upper wall (4) which are connected to each other byside walls (5), the upper wall (4) being positioned on the sidewallswhich extend in the y direction and as such being structured at leastpartially interlocked either removable or not removable, and thatbetween the inclined plane of the front end surface (2) and the leadingedge of the upper wall (4)
 13. The storage device according to claim 12,characterized by the fact that the cut-out at the leading edge of theupper wall (4) of the weekly dosage dispenser (1) is restricted to thecenter section and that at both marginal sections extending from thecenter section the upper wall in the y direction is provided with aflexible web (6) or tongue-like spring element extending to the plane ofthe forward end surface and resiliently engaging the upper longitudinaledge of the leading daily dosage dispenser (7).
 14. The storage deviceaccording to claim 13, characterized by the fact that in their forwardsection the flexible webs or tongue-like spring elements (6) areprovided with a lip (6.1).
 15. The storage device according to claim 12,characterized by the fact that for arresting the trailing daily dosagedispenser (7) at the rear end of the weekly dosage dispenser (1) aclamping element (5.1) is provided in both side walls (5) which by itsclamping effect acts clampingly on both front sides of the daily dosagedispenser (7) positioned here, the clamping elements (5.1) beingstructured as clamping lips, clamping wedges or clamping webs.
 16. Thestorage device according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that thebottom portion (8) of the daily dosage dispenser (7) pointing to therear end surface of the weekly dosage dispenser A (1) is provided with acurved wall matching the wall (2.1) and that by its longitudinal sideedges (9.1) the lid portion (9) of the daily dosage dispenser (7)extends over the wall of the bottom portion (8).
 17. The storage deviceaccording to claim 16, characterized by the fact that knobs (7.2) areapplied from the exterior to the bottom portion of the daily dosagedispenser (1) for improving the placement on slippery surfaces inparticular.
 18. The storage device according to claim 12, characterizedby the fact that seven daily dosage dispensers (7) are positioned in aweekly dosage dispenser (1) on the container bottom (3) in amagazine-like manner in a semi-inclined orientation on the longitudinalnarrow sides (7.1) parallel to the planes of the end surfaces (2) of theweekly dosage dispenser (1).